Doctors’ visits delineate the life of a person with cancer, marking the passage of time and the progress of the illness. During the initial diagnosis and development of a treatment plan I saw the oncologist every two weeks, just barely enough time to note changes in symptoms or the appearance of side effects indicating response to treatment. With the illness in a critical, fast moving phase, frequent assessments afforded a nimble response to intercept and deflect further decline.
In my case this was especially crucial because surgery, radiation and targeted chemotherapy were all ruled out. At that time, the origin of the cancer was still unidentified to a certainty: without a target, treatments were meaningless. The source would simply continue sending cancerous cells back to the liver and perhaps to new sites as well.
Then, an experimental drug clinical study to treat the form of cancer I have was found at Medical University of South Carolina. Participation in this study mandates check-ups there with the study oncologist every three months. With active treatment underway, my primary oncologist here in Virginia, ever watchful of developments with this new treatment, extended visits to 6 week intervals: the first graduation. Later, when tumor growth began to slow, however gradually, and then halted, he extended visits to three month intervals.
Last week, after seeing the MUSC reports of tumor shrinkage, he promoted me from 3 month visits to SIX MONTH check ups, a significant change signaling confidence in the efficacy of the current treatment. This is cause for celebration!
A wonder! The power of many to shape positive results! Our gratitude to each of you for staying the course with your contribution of positive energy to our cause.
Stay well!
Copyright 2009
Lynn Chapman-Adler
www.lindalater.blogspot.com
Posted: July 22, 2009
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